Patiala, August 31
The simmering factionalism within the Punjab Congress spilled into the open at a party event in Samana, where supporters of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi raised slogans against Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.
During the booth‑level mass mobilization drive, “Har Booth Mazboot”, in Samana, District Patiala, the atmosphere turned tense as Warring began his speech. Channi loyalists erupted with chants, “Channi Teri Soch Te, Pehra Devange Thok Ke,” “Bring Channi – Save Punjab”, “Channi Zindabad,” and “Bring Channi – Save Congress. The incident underscored the deepening rift within the party, transforming a mobilization campaign into a flashpoint of factional rivalry.
The scenes at the venue took an extreme turn when Channi supporters began hooting against Warring and disrupted the programme. Confronting the crowd, a visibly agitated Warring warned that those attempting to derail the party’s event would face disciplinary action. Despite repeated warnings, the sloganeering continued unabated, further intensifying the chaos.
This public showdown underscores how the Channi–Warring rivalry has spilled beyond leadership circles into the rank‑and‑file workers, exposing deep cracks in the party’s Punjab unit. With such open discord and no signs of reconciliation, Congress faces bleak prospects in the upcoming state elections. The party’s inability to project unity is likely to erode its credibility further, leaving it vulnerable against rivals who appear far more consolidated.